The Brazil vs Mexico friendly match came to an unexpected halt because of discriminatory chanting from the stands. Held at Kyle Field in Texas, this international fixture drew over 85,000 fans, creating a vibrant atmosphere until referee Lukasz Szpala was compelled to stop the game just before the hour mark. This pause came as part of FIFA’s protocol to combat discriminatory behavior, which includes homophobic language.
Upon halting the game, Szpala informed the players about the situation, and a message was displayed on the stadium’s big screen: “Because of the discriminatory chant you just heard, the game has been temporarily stopped. Any individual participating in the discriminatory chant will be ejected from the stadium.” This initial step aims to address the issue promptly without escalating to more severe measures, such as players leaving the field or the game being abandoned.
FIFA’s protocol, implemented before the 2018 World Cup, aims to eradicate discriminatory practices from the sport. Concacaf, the governing body for football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, has enforced this protocol in previous instances, including the 2024 Nations League final. Following the incident in the Nations League final between Mexico and the United States, Concacaf issued a statement condemning the chants and emphasizing the significant number of fans ejected due to their behavior.
During Saturday’s game, Mexico was trailing 2-0 to Brazil, with goals from Premier League stars Andreas Pereira and Gabriel Martinelli. Despite making a remarkable comeback to level the score at 2-2 in the final minute, Brazil’s Endrick secured a last-minute winner, sealing a 3-2 victory for the Selecao.
This defeat marks Mexico’s second consecutive loss, following a 4-0 defeat against Uruguay in Denver. As they prepare for the Copa America, Mexico will aim to turn their fortunes around in their opening match against Jamaica on June 22, with further group stage encounters against Venezuela and Ecuador.